This course and examination meet the requirements for professionals seeking to renew their qualification as a Substance Abuse Expert under the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Fitness for Duty Program.
Renewal Information: Take this course only if you are within your 3-year time frame for renewal. If your qualification has lapsed you need to take the qualification course, not this renewal.
Please read the description below for additional information.
 
No CE for professional license renewal is available for physicians or psychologists.  Both these disciplines may take this course to qualify as an SAE, the CE awarded here is applicable to SAE qualification.
 
Developed by: Karen Albig Smith, LMFT, LCAS, MAC, CAP, SAP, SAE
Revised April 2024

Example companies, among others, that use our course include Duke Energy, Florida Power and Light, Nile Mile Point Nuclear, and Southern Energy, Cigna, Magellan, and Aetna Healthcare.

Description:  (Updated April 2024) The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and commercial nuclear power industry have published regulations about the potential public health and safety impacts of fitness-for-duty (FFD) problems at nuclear power plants and other facilities that handle nuclear material. Licensees are required to implement programs to address FFD problems including illegal drug use, alcohol abuse, misuse of legal drugs, and any other mental or physical problems that could impair job performance. The events of 9/11 also highlighted a need to strengthen the N.R.C. requirements for granting unescorted access to protected and vital areas in nuclear facilities. These changes in the context within which the nuclear industry operated, and others, resulted in a very long and complex rulemaking process that produced the new rule. The new rule, (10 C.F.R. Part 26) outlines responsibilities for Substance Abuse Experts who provide substance abuse assessments as part of the fitness-for-duty program. Licensees were responsible for implementing the relevant sections that affect SAEs by March 31, 2010. This renewal study includes material concerning new technologies, interpretations, recent guidance, rule changes, and other information about developments in SAE practice and includes documented assessment tools (posttest examination and course evaluation) to assist in determining that the SAE has learned the material.

Renewal requirements:  Eligible professionals* who wish to renew their qualification as Substance Abuse Experts (SAEs) must meet continuing education requirements. To be eligible to re-qualify to perform substance abuse evaluations for employees, who violate N.R.C. drug and alcohol prohibitions, Substance Abuse Experts must obtain 12 professional development hours relevant to the US N.R.C. FFD program.

*Eligible professionals include licensed physicians, licensed or certified social workers, licensed or certified psychologists, licensed or certified employee assistance professionals, or an alcohol and drug abuse counselor certified by the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) Certification Commission or by the International Certification Reciprocity Consortium/Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (ICRC).  No CE for professinal license renewal is available for physicians or psychologists.  Both these disciplines may take this course to qualify as an SAE, the CE awarded here is applicable to that qualification.

Objectives:
1.  Participants will be able to describe the background, rationale, and scope of the N.R.C. FFD regulations.
2.  Participants will be able to discuss the key drug testing requirements of the N.R.C. FFD regulations.
3.  Participants will be able to describe key alcohol testing requirements of the N.R.C. FFD regulations.
4.  Participants will be able to describe SAE qualifications and prohibitions.
5.  Participants will be able to describe the role of the SAE in making determinations of fitness and the return-to-duty process.
6.  Participants will be able to implement the procedures for SAE consultation and communication with LOEs, MROs, and treatment providers.
7.   Participants will be able to describe the reporting and record keeping requirements of the N.R.C. FFD regulations.
8.   Participants will be able to identify issues that SAEs confront in carrying out their duties under the N.R.C. FFD regulations.

CE Credits:  12 (NBCC Hours - 12)

Agenda
Hour One:  Pretest and course overview.
Hour Two: 10 C.F.R. Subpart A - Administrative provisions, Subpart B - Program elements.
Hour Three: 10 C.F.R. Subpart C - Granting & maintaining authorization; Subpart D - Management actions and sanctions to be imposed.
Hour Four: 10 C.F.R. Subpart E - Collecting specimens for testing.
Hour Five: 10 C.F.R. Subpart F - Licensee testing facilities.
Hour Six: 10 C.F.R. Subpart G - DHHS laboratories.
Hour Seven: 10 C.F.R. Subpart H - Determining fitness-for-duty, policy violations and determining fitness.
Hour Eight: 10 C.F.R. Subpart I - Managing fatigue.
Hour Nine:  10 C.F.R. Subpart K - FFD programs for construction.
Hour Ten: 10 C.F.R. Subpart N - Recordkeeping and reporting requirements; Subpart O - Inspections, violations, and penalties.
Hour Eleven: 10 C.F.R. Part 26.
Hour Twelve:  Posttest
CE Broker #:  20-343261 
Methods:  Pre-test, study guide, posttest and evaluation, internet sources via URLs, Q&A by email.
Content Area:  N.R.C. Substance abuse expert, Addictions (alcohol and drugs), Clinical evaluation and assessment, Legal and regulatory.
Purpose:  To prepare eligible professionals to renew SAE qualification under 10 C.F.R. Part 26.
Target Audience:  Psychologists, physicians, social workers, employee assistance professionals, and addiction professionals.
 

Click here to view a list of approvals for this course

Online Course

CE Broker#:
20-343261
CE Credits:
12 (NBCC Hours - 12)
Price:
$275.00

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